Mother of 20-year-old killed by police cries out for justice

THE family of Ada Ifeanyi, who was allegedly shot dead by some police officers attached to the Trinity Police Station on Akpiri Street, Olodi Apapa, Lagos, has demanded justice for her death.

The 20-year-old Ada was, on Saturday, allegedly shot dead by some police officers, while she was returning from a club with her boyfriend, Emmanuel Akomafuwa.

It was gathered that Ada, Emmanuel and one of her friends were accosted by the police personnel on their way back home.

Our correspondents learnt that Emmanuel refused to stop his car, because those who asked them to stop were not in uniform and could not be identified as policemen.

The cops, who were later identified as Inspector Adamu Usman, Sergeant Adeyeye Adeoye, Sergeant Kashim Tijani, Sergeant Lucky Akigbe and Sergeant Paul Adeoye, reportedly blocked the vehicle and opened fire on Ada and Emmanuel.

PUNCH Metro learnt that Ada was shot twice in her stomach by the officers, while Emmanuel was shot in the back of his head.

While Ada died on the spot, Emmanuel is currently battling for his life in hospital.

Speaking with Naijafox, Ada’s mother, Mercy John, said her daughter’s blood must not be shed in vain and vowed to seek justice for her.

She said, “My daughter is no more because of the useless police we have in this country; they shot my daughter dead.

“I was called around 7am that my daughter had been shot and I said I was coming, because where I was far; and when I came, I was not allowed to see my daughter. I was told to wait until her father came. I was still not allowed to see her corpse until I argued that I couldn’t sit without seeing my daughter dead or alive. That was when I was allowed to see her.

“My daughter was not a criminal; the killers will pay dearly for this, because I can’t take it; I can’t stand it and I cannot allow it to go like that.

“The blood of that girl is crying for revenge, because she was just an innocent child that knew nothing. The blood of my daughter will not go just like that; I want justice for her; that is what the family wants. Those policemen need to be arrested, they need to go down.”

Mercy said she spoke with Ada last on Friday afternoon and she promised to spend the Easter with her.

However, the Lagos State Police Command said five of its personnel had been arrested in connection with Ada’s death, while one other had been declared wanted.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Bala Elkana, said in a statement that the personnel were facing internal disciplinary actions at the command’s headquarters, adding that if found wanting, they would be prosecuted in a conventional court for murder.

He stated, “The Commissioner of Police, Lagos State, Zubairu Mu’azu, has ordered the immediate arrest and detention of the police officers suspected to be involved in the shooting of Ada Ifeanyi, 20, of No 4b Amusa Lane, off Ojo Road Ajegunle, and Emmanuel Akomafuwa, 32, of No. 52 Babatunde Street, Olodi Apapa, at Akpiri Street, Olodi Apapa. The incident happened on Saturday, April 13, 2019, around 7am.

“The victims were rushed to hospital and Ada Ifeanyi was confirmed dead, while Emmanuel Akomafuwa is currently on admission receiving treatment from the injury he sustained as a result of the shooting. Members of the team suspected to be involved in the shooting were from the Trinity Police Station and are currently facing internal disciplinary proceedings at the command’s headquarters, Ikeja.

“Their rifles have been retrieved for forensic analysis by ballisticians. If found wanting, they will be prosecuted in conventional court for murder. The policemen arrested are Inspector Adamu Usman, Sergeant Adeyeye Adeoye, Sergeant Kashim Tijani, Sergeant Lucky Akigbe and Sergeant Paul Adeoye, while Inspector Dania Ojo, who escaped immediately after the shooting, has been declared wanted by the command.”

Elkana, who condemned the spate at which police officers were involved in the killing of unarmed civilians, said Mu’azu expressed his deepest condolence to the bereaved family, adding that the command, in its efforts to rid the force of criminal elements, would subject any officer found culpable to disciplinary measures, dismissal and prosecution in conventional courts.